December 2008
THE INCREDIBLE DECEPTION!
Jesus said, "I AM come in My Father's name, and you believe Me not. If another shall come in his own name, him you will receive." (John 5:43) Guess who came? Satan! True to his deceptive self, this time he didn't come as a roaring lion or angel of light, but as a rotund, jolly, benevolent giver of gifts to children: Santa. In 2007 and 2008, laws declared the name of Jesus could no longer join with Holy Scripture to be taught or sung about in schools and public places. Praying in Jesus' name was forbidden. Santa could still go to school, but Jesus was banned. Getting rid of Jesus has been Satan's purpose from the beginning. In this he thinks he has succeeded, but Jesus said, "I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
THE HEAVEN-SENT MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "may it be to me as you have said."
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel commanded and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
ANGELS ANNOUNCE HIS BIRTH TO THE SHEPHERDS
An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
It's not about toys for kids, or gifts for adults. It is about one gift from heaven for the world:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18) "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12)
This Christmas, why not accept God's free gift? Don't let Satan deceive you!
Lizetta Williams
THE DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Becky and I work with the Sparks (K-2nd graders) on club nights. For the last couple years we've enjoyed having them do an impromptu "Christmas pageant in a bag." Mary, Joseph, shepherds, etc. are given simple props and they act out the story as it's being read.
We just had a handful of Sparks at boys night this week, but we went ahead with the "pageant" thanks to our college helpers who filled in some of the parts. We tried to keep it simple, even leaving off the wise men. Since the boys seemed unfamiliar with the plot, we asked them at the end if they had heard this story before. They said "no". Had I known, I probably would have taken more time. It was a lesson to me not to assume that well-known stories are really well known. When I try to convince people to believe the truth, I must take time to let them hear the truth.
You know, what some of us older people really need is to see this well-known story through the eyes of a child who's hearing it for the first time.
Celebrating Lizetta's 93rd birthday
Lizetta Williams with some of her great grandchildren
Some of the women from Lizetta's Sunday School class joined in the celebration
Thank you to The Disciplers (volunteer helpers from Olivet Nazarene University) who bought Bibles for all the BWC Awana kids!
SAVE THE DATE!
BWC HOMECOMING DAY
Sunday, August 16, 2009
for all former campers, staff members, volunteers, friends and family
More information coming soon.
Dave and Becky McMillan; Lizetta, Mary, Mark and Karen Williams; Judy Chesebro;
Joji Barredo, Philippines; Trudie Hayon, Trinidad
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